PREDOMINANT ENTEROVIRAL SEROTYPES CAUSING MENINGITIS

All enteroviral reports to the Public Health Laboratory Service from 1 975 to 1994 which had been proved by culture were analysed. Of the 40 366 isolates, 5741 reports (14%) were from cultures of cerebrospinal f luid. The groups and serotypes accounting for the largest number of ce rebrospinal fluid isolates were A9, E7, E9, E11, E19, and E30, account ing for 70% of all cultured isolates of cerebrospinal fluid. It may be possible to prevent most cases of viral meningitis in the UK with the development of an enteroviral vaccine.